Friday, June 15, 2012

My week in Wallingford

I have been in
Wallingford in Oxfordshire this week. A lot of the week has been spent in
schools as well as giving public talks in the evenings about some of the big
questions we ask in life. We have tackled issues such as: Why trust the bible?
Who is God? Who are we? And last night, looking at life through God’s eyes! I
don’t know about you but I feel that we need to discuss these questions as they
are about the biggest issues we face in life. Don’t get me wrong I believe that
there are many other massive issues that we face as a civilization such as
terrorism, clean water, famine, HIV, cancer but there is a difference between
the questions we have been dealing with and these other issues. The other
issues are issues of natural and physical survival but we have been talking
about matters of eternal survival. If we solve all the problems that we face on
this planet (which would be incredible and worthy of a euphoric response) we
are still left with these issues. Issues such as when life is over, what’s next?
What if God holds us accountable for our choices and behavior? Who was Jesus,
did he really come to tell us about God and to make the ultimate sacrifice to
clear our guilt and give us eternal life? Why such intricate and detailed
design in our universe if there is no original intelligence i.e. God.

I believe that God
has spoken in His word, the Bible. It is not just the writing of men (2
Peter.1.21/2 Timothy.3.16) but the word of God which lives and abides for ever
(1 Peter.1.23). It claims (and does) make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy.3.15).

As I close let me
tell you about two sessions I had this week with teenagers about The Media and
the Christian. As part of their class work they were asked if it was ok to mock
and laugh at Christians. To my amazement the majority of them felt that it was
not appropriate to mock a Christian's beliefs. They might have been saying that
for my benefit but it was an opportunity to explain to them why I am not offended
when people mock Christianity. I feel it gives me the opportunity to challenge
what they say and to explain what I believe. It was a great opportunity to
share the Christian gospel with these young people.